Simulated stained glass art assembly



Oct. 13, 1970 c. w. POWELL 3,533,889

SIMULATED sTAlNED GLAss ART ASSEMBLY Filed ma 2. 1967 IN VEN TOR.

1 Mam United States Patent 3,533,889 SIMULATED STAINED GLASS ART ASSEMBLY Charles W. Powell, 231 E. 50th St., New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed May 2, 1967, Ser. No. 635,457 Int. Cl. B44d 1/16; B44f 1/06, 11/06 US. Cl. 1615 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stained glass art assembly including a plastic panel having glass texture simulating surface indentations therein which are rendered visible when the indentations are filled with coloring medium and which contribute to providing a simulated appearance of authentic stained glass to the plastic panel.

The present invention relates generally to art craft kits, and more particularly to a kit or assembly in which the resulting product simulates authentic stained glass and yet consists primarily of plastic.

An object of the present invention is to provide an art assembly which uses a plastic panel, a member which is safely handled even by young children, and which nevertheless is effectively provided with a realistic stained glass appearance. A further object is to provide an art assembly which not only produces a product of noteworthy appearance but which also requires a degree of participating activity by the user that contributes favorably to the play value of the art assembly.

An art assembly demonstrating objects and advantages of the present invention includes a transparent plastic panel having a design delineated by a raised ridge on both its front and rear surface. Additionally, the panel rear surface has indentations which are rendered visible by a coloring medium deposited, preferably by being wiped, into the indentations. Thus, the visible indentations which simulate glass texture markings and the like are seen through the transparent panel body and together with other aspects of the panel provide a realistic appearance of authentic stained glass.

The above brief description, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a panel used in a stained glass art assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the panel;

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view, on an enlarged scale and in section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1, illustrating further structural details of the panel;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the panel after the application of a first coloring medium;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the panel after the application of a second coloring medium; and

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the completed stained glass art assembly.

Reference is now made to the completed stained glass art assembly 10 of FIG. 6, which assembly consists primarily of a transparent plastic panel 12 having a simulated decorative appearance A of stained glass. Despite the fact that the panel 12, as just noted, is fabricated of plastic, its decorative appearance A by virtue of including glass texture simulating markings and like indicia, herein individually and collectively designated I, has an appearice ance such as is ordinarily found in and characteristic of authentic stained glass. The decorative appearance A also includes an appropriate design delineated by a raised ridge 14 on the panel front surface 12f, such as the floral design or pattern of the illustrated embodiment. Still another part of the panel decorative appearance A are coloring mediums which are applied to the panel rear surface 12r and, among other things, render the indicia I visible and thus significantly contribute to providing the simulated glass texture to the panel 12.

To better understand the foregoing, the step by step procedure for making the completed art assembly 10 of FIG. 6 will now be described in connection with FIGS. l-5. Panel 12 will be understood to be fabricated of an appropriate transparent plastic as an economically mass produced item, preferably by injection molding. What ever the method of manufacture, the panel front surface 12] is provided with the previously noted raised ridge 14 delineating a suitable design and a similar ridge 16 delineating the identical design is also provided on the panel rear surface 12r. An optional feature contributing to the simulated glass appearance of the plastic panel 12 are undulations or surface irregularities S appropriately molded in the panel front surface 12f.

Perhaps the most significant feature contributing to the stained glass decorative appearance A is a prescribed pattern of indentations 18 molded or otherwise appropriately provided in the panel rear surface 12r. Specifically, the indentations 18 are provided in locations which both enable the indentations to effectively serve as detail in the overall design of the ridges 14, 16 and to effectively simulate glass texture, imperfections and the like which are characteristic of' glass. This functioning of the indentations 18 will now be explained.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the indentations 18 serve as receptacles for a first coloring medium PC which is first applied on the panel rear surface 12r and then wiped into the indentations 18. This, in an obvious manner, renders the indentations 18 clearly visible to a viewer on the front side of the panel 12 and looking through the transparent body of the panel.

After depositing the first coloring medium FC in the indentations 18, the user of the art assembly 10 next deposits a second coloring medium SC in each of the compartments 20 defined and bounded by the panel rear surface 12r and the raised ridge 16. As a consequence, the first and second coloring mediums FC and SC, respectively, are visible through the transparent body of the panel 12 and are effective in producing visual impressions which realistically simulate authentic stained glass. As a finishing touch, the top of the front raised ridge 14 is advantageously painted or coated with a leadcolor third coloring medium TC which gives the appearance of pieces of glass set in position by leads as is the case with authentic stained glass.

From the foregoing it should be readily appreciated that the completed art assembly 10 not only has an interesting decorative appearance A but that there is considerable play value in the step by step procedure as outlined herein for producing the art assembly 10. It will be understood, however, that there is to be a latitude of modification, change and substitution in some of the steps and materials disclosed herein and that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. A simulated stained glass art assembly comprising a panel fabricated of transparent material having a front and a rear surface, raised ridges on at least said panel rear surface forming a design on said surface and defining areas thereon, said rear surface having indentations therein in a prescribed pattern within said areas simulating glass texture, a first coloring medium deposited within said indentations so as to render visible said prescribed pattern of indentations when viewed through said panel front surface, and a second coloring medium deposited on said panel rear surface in said areas and similarly visible when viewed through said panel front surface to combine with said visible prescribed pattern of indentations to provide a simulated stained glass appearance to said panel.

2. A simulated stained glass art assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a raised ridge on said panel front surface arranged in the identical design as said raised ridge on said panel rear surface.

3. A simulated stained glass art assembly as claimed in claim 2 including a third coloring medium deposited on at least one side of said raised ridges.

4. A simulated stained glass art assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel front surface is irregularly formed so as to contribute to the simulated glass texture 20 appearance of said panel.

4 5. A simulated stained glass art assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pattern of said indentations includes indentations in a location contributing to the appearance of said design formed by said ridges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,826,923 10/1931 Carstein l6l6 2,274,907 3/ 1942 Madala.

2,876,574 3/1959 Powell l615 3,399,101 8/1968 Magid 1615 FOREIGN PATENTS 705,097 3/1965 Canada.

I. T. GOOLKASIAN, Primary Examiner R. A. KILLWORTH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

